(VNA - 26/09/2011) - State President Truong Tan Sang met Singaporean former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in Singapore on Sept. 26 as part of his current State-level visit to the country.

Both expressed pleasure at the fine development of friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

They also expressed their joy at the effective implementation of the Viet Nam-Singapore Connectivity Framework Agreement and agreed that cooperation in national defence and security, education and training and tourism should be further developed to bring the two countries’ relations to a new height.

They exchanged views on regional issues of mutual concern, including the East Sea, and agreed that related parties should abide by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, strictly implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and work towards building the Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC).

They also agreed to boost cooperation in negotiations for accession to the Agreement of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

President Sang spoke highly of former PM Lee’s contributions to Singapore ’s development.

He highly praised Singapore ’s ongoing position as one of Viet Nam ’s leading economic, trade and investment partners.

Former PM Lee expressed his belief that President Sang’s visit would make important contributions to boosting relations between the two countries. He also said that the two sides should continue boosting cooperation at regional and international forums, including ASEAN and its partners./.